Desertification & Land Degradation

April 2013: The Global Environmental Facility (GEF) has released a study, titled "Two Decades of Experience: Investing in Ecosystem Services and Adaptation for Food Security," which provides an overview of the GEF's investments in ecosystem services and improved food security system during 1991-2011.

UNCCD COP 11 will take place from 16-27 September 2013 in Windhoek, Namibia, under the theme “A stronger UNCCD for a Land-Degradation Neutral World”. Convened at the halfway point of the 10-Year Strategy of the UNCCD (2008-2018) the meeting will review progress made in the implementation of the Strategy. Delegates will also consider the outcome of the second and preparations for the third UNCCD Scientific Conferences and reports of the Committee on Science and Technology (CST) and the Committee for the Review of the Implementation of the Convention (CRIC). Other agenda items include, inter alia: follow-up to the outcomes of the United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development (Rio+20) outcome on land degradation, desertification and drought; improving mechanisms to facilitate regional coordination of the implementation of the Convention; programme and budget for the biennium 2014-2015; progress in the implementation of the comprehensive communication Strategy; revised procedures for the accreditation of civil society organizations and private sector representatives in meetings and processes of the UNCCD; and maintenance of the roster of experts. Under institutional arrangements, delegates will discuss, among other issues, new housing arrangements for the Global Mechanism, including a revision of the Memorandum of Understanding with the International Fund for Agricultural Development, and collaboration with the Global Environment Facility.

15 April 2013: The Economics of Ecosystems and Biodiversity Business Coalition (TEEB for Business) has released a report on environmental externalities of businesses, titled "Natural Capital at Risk – The Top 100 Externalities of Business.” The report concludes that the top 100 environmental externalities cost the world economy approximately US$7.3 trillion annually, around 13% of global economic output.

22 March 2013: The Global Mechanism of the UN Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) hosted a meeting that gathered representatives from nine countries to discuss lessons learned and final year priorities for the project "Integrating Climate Change Finance into Sustainable Land Management Investment Strategies" funded by the European Commission.

March 2013: The Food and Agriculture Organization of the UN (FAO) has released a series of videos on forests in Algeria, Tanzania and the Mediterranean region in celebration of the first International Day of Forests, held 21 March 2013.

21 March 2013: The Food and Agriculture Organization of the UN (FAO) has released a report, titled “State of Mediterranean Forests 2013,” which details the social and environmental changes affecting forests in the Mediterranean region, as well as the contributions that forests make to agriculture, water, energy, tourism and other economic sectors.

21 March 2013: On the occasion of the first International Day of Forests, the Collaborative Partnership on Forests (CPF) has released a 360° view of forests based on information gathered during the International Year of Forests in 2011.

14 March 2013: The Global Environment Facility (GEF) has completed a three-day Expanded Capacity Workshop (ECW) for the West African Sahel, bringing together focal points from the GEF, the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), the UN Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), the UN Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD), and the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs).